Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Angolan Armed Forces Embraer aircraft crashes in Central Huambo. Twenty-six people, including four Angolan army generals killed in plane crash.

Twenty-six people, including four Angolan army generals died on Wednesday following a plane crash at the airport of the central Huambo province, witnesses near the airport told Xinhua by telephone.

Six people survived in the crash which took place soon after the military transport plane took off from the airport, and the military confirmed that four lieutenant generals were among the people killed in the crash, the worst air disaster in the African country in recent memory.

A military source who demanded anonymity said neither the victims nor the reasons of the accident have been identified as yet.

The source said the members of the crew also died in the crash.

Luanda - Three general officers of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) died on Wednesday, following a plane crash at the airport of the central Huambo province.

A military source said to Angop neither the victims nor the reasons of the accident were identified yet.

In addition, he said the members of the crew also died in the referred crash.

An Angolan military plane has crashed after take-off from the central city of Huambo killing at least three generals, the state news agency Angop says.

A Huambo-based journalist told the BBC that 30 of the 36 passengers had died - but no official toll has been released.

It is not clear what caused the accident, but most of those on board are believed to be air force officers.

Correspondents say the aircraft was an Embraer jet recently purchased by the army to transport top officials.

Journalist Manuel Vieria told the BBC's African Service that there were six survivors. Portugal's Sol newspaper is also reporting that 30 passengers were killed.

The paper quotes a survivor in hospital as saying that the accident happened so fast it was difficult to know what the problem was, but the pilot seemed to be aware that there was a technical fault.

Portugal's news agency Lusa said the accident happened at about midday local time (11:00 GMT).

A military plane has crashed in central Angola, killing at least 30 people, including three Angolan army generals.

Portuguese-language news outlets say the plane crashed Wednesday while trying to take off from the airport in the central city of Huambo.

The Angolan Air Force jet, built by Brazilian aircraft-maker Embraer, was carrying a delegation of high-ranking Angolan military officers.

At least six people survived the crash. The cause of the crash is unknown.



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